Deaths of woman, her foster child ruled a homicide

LONG BRANCH, N.J. (AP) — The deaths of a woman and a young girl who were found inside their central New Jersey apartment have been ruled a homicide.

Monmouth County prosecutors say the determination was made Sunday, two days after Long Branch police found the bodies of 62-year-old Joan Colbert and her 10-year-old foster daughter, Veronica Roach. Officers had gone to the residence after receiving a 911 call about suspicious circumstances at the site.

Prosecutors have not released further details on the deaths, citing the ongoing investigation.

Neighbors have said Colbert had raised the girl since she was an infant.